UFC 261: Silva consoles Weidman after gruesome leg injury

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Florida, April 25: Anderson Silva has posted a message of support for Chris Weidman after the American suffered a gruesome leg injury at UFC 261.

Just 17 seconds into his fight with Uriah Hall in Jacksonville, Florida, Weidman's lower right leg appeared to snap as he landed a kick to Hall's shin.

Weidman, 36, was removed from the Octagon on a stretcher and transported to a local hospital.

The injury came more than seven years after Silva suffered a nearly identical fate while fighting Weidman.

In December 2013, Silva broke his left leg landing a kick on Weidman's leg early in the second round of their UFC 168 match-up in Las Vegas.

Not long after Weidman's injury Saturday, Silva tagged the American in a message posted to Instagram: "My deepest and most sincere sentiments champ. Have faith, I wish you a speedy recovery. In this moment I wish you and your family light, love and knowledge.

"To the fans of the sport, please respect this moment of this incredible warrior and let's wish that he is 100% very recovered soon. May God bless you and your family."

Though many expected Silva's injury to end his career, the Brazilian returned to the Octagon a little over a year later, beating Nick Diaz at UFC 183 in January 2015. That victory was overturned due to doping violations, but Silva would fight six more times -- most recently a TKO loss to Hall last October.

That was Hall's last fight before Saturday, and he took no joy in the way the Weidman bout ended.

"I just want to make sure he's OK," Hall told ESPN.

"There's just no way to celebrate after this. It's unfortunate. I'm sure he put in a lot of time and dedication away from his family, and for this to happen ... I just wish him well."